The
international
system is
anarchic. There
is no authority
above
states
capable of
regulating their
interactions;
states must
arrive at
relations with
other
states on
their own,
rather than it
being dictated
to them by some
higher
controlling
entity (that is,
no true
authoritative
world government
exists).

Chanakya
(or
Chansh) early
Indian
statesman, and
writer on the Arthashastra.

Han Feizi,
Chinese scholar
who
theorised Legalism (or
Legism) and who
served in the
court of the
King of Qin -
later unifier of
China ending the Warring
States Period.
His writings
include The
Two Handles
(about
punishments and
rewards as tools
of governance).
He
theorised
about a neutral,
manipulative
ruler who would
act as Head of
State while
secretly
controlling the
executive
through his
ministers - the
ones to take
real
responsibility
for any policy.

Niccolò Machiavelli, a
Florentine
political
philosopher, who
wrote The Prince in
which he held
that the sole
aim of a prince
(politician) was
to seek
power,
regardless of
religious or
ethical
considerations.